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US 9,651,688 B2Granted
Neutron detection
AssigneeNova Scientific, Inc.
InventorsJon H. Chappell, W. Bruce Feller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for detecting a neutron includes providing a first voltage to an input electrode of a microchannel plate, providing a second voltage to an output electrode of the microchannel plate, the second voltage being more positive than the first voltage, measuring a signal on the output electrode, and detecting a neutron based on a comparison of the signal at the output electrode with a baseline value.
Claims67
A method for detecting a neutron, the method comprising:
- providing a first voltage to an input electrode of a microchannel plate;
- providing a second voltage to an output electrode of the microchannel plate, the second voltage being more positive than the first voltage to provide a high voltage direct current field between the input and output electrodes to accelerate electrons in channels of the microchannel plate;
- measuring a first signal on the input electrode;
- measuring a second signal on the output electrode;
- and
- detecting a neutron based on a comparison of the first and second signals.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- discriminating between a neutron and a gamma ray by using a first signal on a first electrode and a second signal on a second electrode, the first and second signals being influenced by moving charged particles generated as a result of an interaction between an incident particle or radiation and a material disposed between the first and second electrodes, the material comprising a first component that is sensitive to neutrons and a second component that is sensitive to gamma rays, in which a first voltage is provided to the first electrode, a second voltage is provided to the second electrode, the second voltage being more positive than the first voltage to provide a high voltage direct current field between the first and second electrodes to accelerate electrons between the first and second electrodes;
- and
- generating a detection signal indicating that a neutron has been detected when the first signal and the second signal have different polarities.
A method for detecting a neutron, the method comprising:
- providing a microchannel plate having an input electrode and an output electrode, the input and output electrodes being connected to different voltages to provide a high voltage direct current field between the input and output electrodes to accelerate electrons in channels of the microchannel plate;
- and
- generating a signal indicating detection of a neutron when, for a first period of time, a first signal at the output electrode has a polarity different from the polarity of a second signal at the input electrode.
A neutron detector comprising:
- a microchannel plate having an input electrode, an output electrode, and a glass plate comprising microscopic channels, the input electrode to be connected to a first voltage, the output electrode to be connected to a second voltage different from the first voltage;
- and
- a data processor to determine whether a neutron has been detected based on a comparison of a first signal on the input electrode and a second signal on the output electrode;
- wherein the microchannel plate comprises an anode connected to a third voltage that is more positive than the second voltage, the second voltage being more positive than the first voltage, and the data processor is configured to determine that a neutron has been detected when, during a period of time, the first and second signals have different polarities, and the second and third signals have the same polarity.
1 more element
A neutron detector comprising:
- a first electrode;
- a second electrode;
- a material disposed between the first and second electrodes, the material comprising a first component that is sensitive to neutrons and a second component that is sensitive to gamma rays;
- and
- a data processor configured to discriminate between a neutron and a gamma ray by using a first signal on the first electrode and a second signal on the second electrode, the first and second signals being influenced by moving charged particles generated as a result of an interaction between an incident particle or radiation and the material disposed between the first and second electrodes, the data processor configured to determine that a neutron has been detected when the first signal and the second signal have different polarities for a period of time;
- wherein the data processor is configured to detect an avalanche of secondary electrons traveling in a channel in the material, and detect the first and second signals after detecting the avalanche of secondary electrons.
3 more elements
A neutron detector comprising:
- a microchannel plate having an input electrode and an output electrode, the input and output electrodes being connected to different voltages to provide a high voltage direct current field between the input and output electrodes to accelerate electrons in channels of the microchannel plate;
- and
- a data processor configured to determine that a neutron has been detected when, for a first period of time, a first signal at the output electrode has a polarity different from the polarity of a second signal at the input electrode.
A neutron detector comprising:
- a microchannel plate having an input electrode, an output electrode, and a glass plate comprising microscopic channels, the input electrode to be connected to a first voltage, the output electrode to be connected to a second voltage different from the first voltage;
- and
- a data processor to determine whether a neutron has been detected based on a comparison of a first signal on the input electrode and a second signal on the output electrode;
- wherein the data processor is configured to determine that a neutron has been detected when the first signal remains positive relative to a baseline value for a period of time, and the second signal is positive relative to the baseline value for a first sub-period within the period of time and is negative relative to the baseline value for a second sub-period within the period of time.
1 more element
A method for detecting a neutron, the method comprising:
- providing a first voltage to an input electrode of a microchannel plate;
- providing a second voltage to an output electrode of the microchannel plate, the second voltage being more positive than the first voltage;
- providing a third voltage to an anode associated with the microchannel plate, the third voltage being more positive than the second voltage;
- measuring a first signal on the input electrode;
- measuring a second signal on the output electrode;
- and
- detecting a neutron based on a comparison of the first and second signals.
4 more elements
A method for detecting a neutron, the method comprising:
- providing a first voltage to an input electrode of a microchannel plate;
- providing a second voltage to an output electrode of the microchannel plate, the second voltage being more positive than the first voltage;
- measuring a first signal on the input electrode;
- measuring a second signal on the output electrode;
- and
- detecting a neutron based on a comparison of the first and second signals;
- wherein detecting a neutron comprises detecting a neutron when the first signal remains positive relative to a baseline value for a period of time, and the second signal is positive relative to the baseline value for a first sub-period within the period of time and is negative relative to the baseline value for a second sub-period within the period of time.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.